House Republicans sidelined, Durbin says

10/13/13 10:49 AM EDT

House Republicans are no longer a part of negotiations to end the standoff in Washington, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said Sunday.

“We’ve reached the point where House Republicans and their leadership have stepped to the sidelines,” the Illinois Democrat said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” knocking the House GOP for what he characterized as shifting demands. “They’re not part of this,” he said.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), meanwhile, blamed President Barack Obama for the standoff over reopening the government and raising the debt limit.